Boston’s rising star earns recognition, but Abreu’s championship moments raise questions after Venezuela’s win.
The World Baseball Classic always leaves behind a handful of moments, a few breakout stars, and, inevitably, a couple of debates.
This year, the spotlight landed squarely on Roman Anthony.
The 21-year-old star outfielder for the Boston Red Sox was named to the WBC All-Tournament Team following a strong showing for Team USA.
It’s the kind of recognition that signals arrival - not just as a young player, but as someone capable of impacting games on an international stage.
Anthony earned it.
Inserted into the roster after an injury to Corbin Carroll, he didn’t just fill a spot, he made it his own. Anthony launched two home runs during the tournament and posted a .920 OPS, but the defining moment came in the semifinal.
With Team USA locked in a tight battle against the Dominican Republic, Anthony delivered the go-ahead homer that ultimately sent the Americans to the championship game.
That swing alone would’ve made his tournament memorable. The full body of work made him undeniable.
He wasn’t alone representing the United States on the All-Tournament Team, joining names like Brice Turang, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb. They joined international stars like Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr. and tournament MVP Maikel Garcia on the ceremonial squad.
But as much as Anthony’s inclusion made sense, it also opened the door for a fair question.
Mar 9, 2026; Houston, TX, United States; United States outfielder Roman Anthony (3) hits a home run in the third inning against Mexico at Daikin Park. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)How was Wilyer Abreu not on that list?
If Anthony was Team USA’s breakout, Abreu was one of the emotional and offensive engines behind Venezuela’s championship run.
He didn’t just produce. He delivered in the biggest moments of the tournament.
Abreu crushed a towering home run in the quarterfinals that helped flip a game against Japan, and then followed it up with another massive swing in the championship game against Team USA, staking Venezuela to an early lead on the sport’s biggest international stage.
Those weren’t empty numbers. Those were defining moments.
And beyond the power, Abreu looked every bit like a player ascending into another tier. The energy, the emotion, the ability to seize the spotlight. It all translated.
For a player already viewed as a cornerstone in Boston’s outfield, this tournament felt like confirmation of what’s coming next.
Which is why his absence from the All-Tournament Team stands out.
Awards like this are never perfect. They’re snapshots, shaped by timing, narrative and voting perspectives as much as pure production. Anthony checked every box - impact, visibility, signature moment - and deserved his spot.
But so did Abreu.
If anything, the biggest takeaway for the Red Sox isn’t who made the list - it’s the chip on the shoulder this could create for Abreu combined with the spark this tournament should be giving him heading into the 2026 season.
Anthony looks like a future star arriving ahead of schedule.
Abreu looks like one already here.
And if this tournament was any indication, Boston’s presence on the global stage is only getting stronger.
Mar 17, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; Venezuela outfielder Wilyer Abreu (16) reacts after hitting a home run against the United States in the fifth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game at loanDepot Park. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.